The Life of Charles Dickens Reflected in Great...

The Life of Charles Dickens Reflected in Great Expectations I must entreat you to pause for an instant, and go back to what you know of my childish days, and to ask yourself whether it is natural that something of the character formed in me then - Charles Dickens Charles Dickens is well known for his distinctive writing style. Few authors before or since are as adept at bringing a character to life for the reader as he was. His novels are populated with characters who seem real to his readers, perhaps even reminding them of someone they know. What readers may not know, however, is that Dickens often based some of his most famous characters, those both beloved or reviled, on people in his own life. It is†¦show more content†¦Early in the novel the reader learns that Pip is an orphan who was brought up by hand by his sister. Mrs. Joe is a hard woman who sees Pip as nothing more than a burden inflicted upon her. Although Dickens had a mother, she, too, was emotionally distant and Dickens never afterwards forgot...that my mother was warm for my being sent back to the blacking warehouse. By creating this mockery of his mother, Dickens was able to express the long-standing grievances he held against her because of his painful ch ildhood. Similarly, Joe Gargery, the closest thing Pip has to a father figure, is much like Dickens father, John. Joe is described as a mild, good-natured, sweet-tempered, easygoing, foolish, dear fellow - a sort of Hercules in strength, and also in weakness (28; ch. 2). Joe is always kind, even somewhat indulgent, to the young Pip. While Pip is perpetually brow-beaten by his shrew of a sister, Joe stands up for him in his own quiet way. Likewise, Dickens was well aware that it was only through his fathers insistence that he was allowed to go back to school rather than Warrens Blacking. Dickens own recollection of his father is quite similar to the traits Pip uses to describe Joe. Dickens described his father as a kindhearted and generous as ever lived in the world. Everything that I can remember ofShow MoreRelatedGreat Expectations and a Christmas Carol: a True Gentleman Essay1430 Words   |  6 PagesGreat Expectations and A Christmas Carol: A True Gentleman According to Dictionary.com, a gentleman is a civilized, educated, sensitive, or well-mannered man. However, by Victorian definition, a gentleman was, perhaps most importantly, a rich man. â€Å"Charles Dickens†¦was an author of relatively humble origins who desired passionately to be recognized as a gentleman, and insisted, in consequence, upon the essential dignity of his occupation† (Victorian Web). In Great Expectations he portrays Pip, aRead MoreThe Reflection Of Charles Dickens Great Expectations1590 Words   |  7 Pages The Reflection of Charles Dickens in Great Expectations Introduction: The general definition of reflection is† to bring or cast as result â€Å". Dr. Harvey from Macquarie University define reflection as â€Å"an intended action, it depends on the past actions, present actions, and future actions.† In this paper we will see the reflection in â€Å"Art†. Art is the reflection of the identity and personality, for example in painting, drawing, writing, and many more. Art can symbolize the personality of theRead More Criminal Activity and Charles Dickens1381 Words   |  6 Pagesand Charles Dickens      Ã‚   Great Expectations, like the majority of Charles Dickens fiction, contains several autobiographical connotations that demonstrate the authors keen observational talents. 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